Page 69 of Little Nightmare

“Read the room,” I muttered under my breath.

He winked at me then gave me a solid elbow. “I’ll get this guy back on Raven duty,”

“How was it?” Dante broke his silence again. “The appointment with the doctor? Strong heart beat? Is the baby okay?”

A smile spread across my face. “The baby’s perfectly healthy, strong heartbeat, and I almost cried.”

“And yet not a tear when I cut a pound of flesh from your body.” Dante winked. “Keep them safe, Ace.”

“Always will,” I answered. “You have my word.”

He snorted at that.

I walked out with a pounding headache and in need of a long shower and some water. I found Bella in the kitchen. She was drinking a glass of water and looking at her phone. “Oh hey, I heard the meeting end because I wasn’t eavesdropping on my very terrifying senator dad and put Raven in the car. She was exhausted.”

“Thank you.” I yawned behind my hand and started to turn when her eyes widened. “What?”

“Speak of the devil.” She grinned. “And he appears.”

“Heard that.” Chase winked. “I’ll be back Bella. Ace, a word?”

“Dun, dun.” Bella sing-songed.

I flipped her off behind her dad’s back and followed him down the hall and out of the house.

“I’m telling you this in confidence.” He stared straight ahead, a normal smile spread across his face like he was talking about the weather.

I mimicked his movements and pointed to the fountain. “I’m listening.”

“You’ve had a tail for the last week, six foot two, always wears a hat and face mask, hasn’t engaged but even has access to the campus and tried to access records. If he engages, you know what to do. For right now it seems like he’s gathering intel. I’m not putting a tail on him because it’s too suspicious. Just be aware like you always are and make sure she doesn’t leave your side.”

“Why are they still following her if Louis is dead?” I asked. “That’s the question I have. Unless they plan on inserting someone else, a classmate, a professor?—”

“A bodyguard,” he deadpanned. “I’m only going to say this once, but lie to us, double cross us, do as much as sneeze incorrectly, and your throat will be slit so fast you’ll look up and see a headless body from the gravel. Do we have an understanding?”

“I’m not like them, Chase. I’m a De Lange in name and blood; my honor is something else entirely. You gave Ivan a chance. Give one to me too.”

“Convenient,” he whispered. “That she got pregnant so fast, when you just got back into the country a few months ago and weren’t seen with her. Louis worked hard and fast, clearly he was the plant. It’s clear as day, right? All eyes point to Louis, but what if that’s the plan? You only see what you want to see. How do we know you haven’t been hiding in plain sight all along?”

“I bled for her.”

Chase pulled out a knife and sliced it across his hand and squeezed drops onto the ground. “Two can play that game, your blood, your life means nothing in this moment, it only meanssomething when it counts. Prove your loyalty. Keep her safe. Prove us right, Ace, I really hate getting blood on my suits, it looks bad on the news.”

“Right.”

“Goodnight.”

He walked off leaving me pissed that he would doubt me and then pissed I never thought of the same thing. Yes, all fingers pointed to Louis.

Mine too. Which meant I never once thought anyone could possibly point them to me.

If they knew I married her to protect his child. If they knew the child wasn’t mine, would it change things?

Would her life be in danger too?

It was too much to think about.

I hopped into the car and put it in drive. Raven was sound asleep in the front seat, her hands tucked under her chin. I stared longingly at her flat stomach.

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